Randal Pinkett, who went to work for Donald Trump after winning Season 4 of The Apprentice, is receiving serious consideration to become the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, according to Democrats connected to Gov. Jon Corzine.   Corzine has been actively searching for an African American running mate.

Pinkett, a 38-year-old Rhodes Scholar who runs a Newark-based management, technology and policy consulting firm, joins State Senators Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) as the leading contenders to run with Corzine in November.  The Franklin Township resident is a graduate of Rutgers University and received a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He worked for General Electric, AT&T Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies before launching his own company and working for Trump's Atlantic City casino.

According to his website, Pinkett's firm "works with corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations in the areas of housing and community development, economic development, human services, nonprofit and community technology, healthcare and education."

Corzine could announce his LG candidate as early as next week, before President Obama attends a rally for the Corzine campaign at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel.